About This Plant
Whites Ginger an aphrodisiac, medicinal and edible vine
Note: this is a warm-climate plant that is semi-deciduous in our climate in Port Stephens. While it will not look at it’s best during winter, the plant is just fine and will produce fresh leaves in spring.
The main use of mukombero or white’s ginger root is as a natural viagra. It grows wild in sub-Saharan Africa. In many countries of Africa mukombero is also used against depression, for stress, to ease labour pain, sleep enhancer, mild laxative, but also has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic (against worms) properties. The root also increases energy and vigour.
Traditionally root pieces are chewed.
The root is also used to make a ginger beer like beverage or a wine. The root is also used as a condiment, especially with meat.
The leaves are eaten fresh or dried. The early Portuguese in Angola boiled the leaves with butter or olive oil to substitute it for spinach.
What To Do With Mukombero
My first root harvest was about two years from planting. The roots grow plentifully and mainly under the surface. Traditionally, the roots are made into a soft drink, but I could not find a recipe for this!. However, white’s ginger tastes nice in a tea or mixed with black tea. It smells heavenly! In some months I can report about my white’s ginger wine – I followed a root beer recipe. Mukumbero also tastes great for scented water, just infused in cold water. A little goes a long way the vanilla, licorice aroma is heavenly but intense.
How to Grow Whites Ginger
Whites ginger is a substantial vine and easy to grow. Mondia is probably frost-sensitive. The natural habitat is moist forest or rainforest. The plant prefers well-drained, fertile soil and will climb onto a trellis or into a tree.
I did have flowers on my plants, but no fruit has formed so far.
I planted mukumbero in our heavy clay soil, and so far, it does well.
The roots of White’s ginger are tenacious. It does not sucker on it’s own, but when you want to move it, the root pieces in the ground will send up new plants.
Plants will be sent bare-rooted
I have got bigger plants at the moment and they will most likely be sent bare-rooted. Please make sure you have a pot and some potting mix at hand!
Other names:
Common names: White’s ginger, tonic root (Eng.); mundondo, mudondo (Angola); mundondo, bondo, molo busio (Cissongo – Central African Republic); nlondo, kimbiolongwa, kumba (Ngwaka – Democratic Republic of the Congo); ubasangbwandiya, gatimba (Lugware – Democratic Republic of the Congo); mujimbaye (Tshiluba – Democratic Republic of the Congo); lacadje (Fula – Guinea Bissau); mkombela (Kenya); citumbulo (Malawi); umondi, mundi, mindi (Zulu); sedando omutona (Uganda) and mungurawu (Shona Zimbabwe).
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